Well tool operating and jarring apparatus



Sept. 28, 1954 R. c. BAKER WELL TOOL OPERATING AND JARRING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Original Filed Jan. 12, 1948 Sept. 28, 1954 R, Q BAKER' 2,690,228

WELL TOOL OPERATING AND JARRING APPARATUS r raeA/EYS Patented Sept. 28, 1954 WELLTOOL OPERATING AND JARR-ING APPARATUS Reuben'C. Baker,^=Coalnga, Calif., assignorto Baker Oil-Tools; Ine.,ffVernon, Calif., a corporationfof California Original;applioationJanuary 12, 1948, Serial No.. Y, 1,8,45. Dividedand. this application April 12,.

1951, Serial N0."220,'6

Claims.' ,i (Cl. 166%178) Tlie "present invention relates to A-Well devices-,- f

and more*particularly-4- to subsurface devices or and similar Wells.-"

Tl'i'i'sappliation'is' a division of the^applicationf= filed: January y"12, 1948,#now-Patent Non' 2,0Ei40g54'7';r for Gas/Operated' Well Apparatus."

Antobjefct of `thepresentinventiori'is rto :pro-A Anothe'iwobject' ofthe inventionfis to providea telescopio-welli-jarringmechanism, 'and-"af dev-ice i slida'ble'ithereon; which' the device? -is preventedfrom"'catchin'g (ir-hanging' up on'ftheijarringmechanism;

A further'object" of the Linvention-is to'provide-i* a subsurfaee well/toolembodying a friction drag device-'that "cannot-movedownwardlyof the tool thewaltof an enlarged diameter 'well bore, y' butv whidii;'-neverthelessyf'is f capable f of vmoving vrela--` tively* downward fthe tool kwhenfdisposedin contact with the Walli-of'a smaller* diameter Lwell boren This Linvention' possesses manyother-#advantagesmanddiasA oth'erobjects'which may lbelmade more clearlyj apparent Afronfria' considera-tion of Suh" forms 'are'i'shown vin the drawings -accom--y panying"'andfforming'4 part'of 'thepresent speciv iieation.`l Thse-formswill nowibef-desoribed'en detail;""illiiis'tratingI the general "principles-lof the 'f inventionfbutdt is 'to be understoodv -'that ysuch detailed-descriptionis not-'to betakendn a limit'- ing'sensepsincev'thescope of the jinventionis best deiillred-bir I"the appended Claims;

Referring' to the :drawings z Figurer-1 is a longitudinal section through a weil-'-jarring\and' tool operating apparatusfwith' the parts fdisposed `l @in *their l.relativey position! for 1 lowering: throughv a we1l= Icasi/ng; r `or similar ...wellY conduit; f 1k L partsof 'theztool in another-.position o i Figclris .aiviewfsimilarrto 1Figs.j. 1 and'vZ, illus-A tratingsfthejarringr :portionwof thef apparatus'ain Y extended position; ,z

Fig' is alongitudinal section through la Well" casing vandA liner disposed" therein,l with a friction:-

drag device being-lowered through thelcasingto the liner; -f

Figi-6 isa view similar -to Fig.v 5 of thefrictionf.

dragdevice'disposed-in the liner.

The apparatus A disclosed in the drawings cani-f.: controlifandf operate subsurface Welll apparatus disolosed'inftheabove-identiiied parent applioay tion, 4in which the setting'- of a Well4 packeri-not -v v shown) mavbe initiatedfby ring a cartridge Illv disposed# in a gun Abarrel'lll threaded'intoa gun bodyl'ilZf'xk/hich is, yin turn,'threaded1y securedfto breechblockfll 'threaded -on the-f gun bar-rel H, to strike and nre thelcartridg'e..v The flame from-1A theicartridgeignites the`- upper end of `a fus'ee -or power charge-(not*shownl'disposed Within thecylinder head 3 and initiates its combustion.

The tapered -lower endl5 'vflthering pinar extendss'downwardlyvfrom a' flange or springfseat' f I8 liiitegra'l-with'the firing pin shaft, all-of these elementsbeingdisposed-Within the gun-body '|2.

A eompressed-helica1-spring-I9 is disposedfbe-- tWe'en-theseat-r I8 andfthe' upper -end 20 'of the@ central' Ibore 2 I through the Jbody', Ithis spring exerting suc-ifent Aforce-to shiftthefpinl down- Wardlv'andstrikeits end l 5 against the cartridge I Dfin orderito iirefthe latter. 2

Th`-shaft- 'of 4the pin- I4 extends upwardly throughtanlfelongate transverse slot 22 `Withinthe bodyY |2,` its upper end beingvr formed with a pair of Wing'sfor Ahooks-23 Y"adapted to be'eligaged by inwardlydirected-latcn iingers 24 'on'the'lower ends 0f 'the latch= levers 25 disposed f in the i body f' slotland pivotally mounted on pins 26 supported in the body. The upperarms 2 io'f thei'levers areurgedl inv anvoutward direction to-maintainthe i latchnngers 2 4 engaged f under the firing pinhooks-'23 vvby an 'expansible `spring 28 Whoseoppositeffendsare receivedwithin reoesses-29 -in Ythe` arms;v r` So longf as 4thespring28 holds the upper 1 leverxarmsv 1 -21- Foutwardlyand. 4:the latchl :iingers` 24 under fthe'flrngfpinxhooks 23,! the ringpinr I 4 l:is maintained :in .elevated position .above fvthet y highlyzfoompressed: conditiony The-latch :levers4 arms 2l' are movable inwardly toward each other, to swing the fingers 24 outwardly from engagement with the ring pin lf2., allowing the iring spring E53 to move the point i5 of the pin downwardly and strike a ring force against the cartridge It.

lThe upper end 33 of the gun body l2 is threaded into a jarring device 3l, to provide sufficient weight for forcing the entire apparatus through the well fluid during its descent in the casing E, and to impose a hammering or jarring force on the equipment whenever necessary. The upper end 3i of the jarring device is secured to a wire line socket 33 having an enlarged bore 34 for the reception of the unravelled lower end of the wire line C. As is well known, the wire line may be rmly secured in the socket by :Filling the bore of the latter with Babbitt metal 35, or any other suitable material.

The jarring device includes a lower head 36 threaded on the upper end 3i! of the gun body l2. An outer barrel 3'3 is welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to the lower head 36 and has an upper head 33 welded, or otherwise suitably secured, to it. An inner mandrel 39 is disposed within the barrel 3l', having a lower head 40 adapted to engage the lower barrel head 36, when in its lowermost position, and also with the upper head 33 within its uppermost position. This mandrel 39 is threaded into the lower end of the wire line socket 33 and has a flange 4| to substantially bridge the space between the socket 33 and the barrel 3l' when the mandrel is fully telescoped within the barrel.

Reciprocation of the mandrel 39 by the wire line C will cause the mandrel head 40 to strike one or more hammer blows against either the lower or upper barrel heads 36, 38, to provide the desired jarring action on the mechanism.

For the purpose of moving the latch lever-arms 2l inwardly, a friction drag device 42 is employed, This device includes upper and lower collars 43, 44 slidable along the wire line socket 33, jarring mechanism 3l and gun body l2. The upper and lower ends of outwardly bowed springs 45 are suitably secured to these collars 43, 44 as by the use of encompassing rings 43 and screws 41. The springs 45 frictionally engage the wall of the well casing B, which tends to resist its movement therewithin. Nevertheless, the drag device 42 is forced through the well casing B during lowering movement of the apparatus therewithin by engagement of the upper collar 43 with a shoulder 43 on the wire line socket 33. Upward movement of the wire line C, after the desired location has been reached in the well bore in which the equipment is to be operated, moves the entire apparatus, with the exception of the drag device 42, upwardly within the casing B, pulling the latch levers 25 within the lower drag collar 44 (Fig. 2) and causing the latter to shift the latch lever arms 2l inwardly and release the ngers 23 from the firing pin I4, whereupon the spring le is free to strike the pin end l against the cartridge le to fire the latter.

In order to prevent the drag collars 43, 44 from catching or hanging up on the jarring device 3l, the latter is purposely maintained in its fully contracted position, with the mandrel head 40 adjacent the lower barrel head 36; so that a substantial gap does not exist between the upper end of the barrel 3l and the flange 4i, in which the drag collars might catch. Maintenance of the mandrel 39 in the barrel 3l in this desired position is assured by a shear pin 49 extending through the mandrel head 43 into the outer barrel 3l. If the jarring mechanism is to be operated, a pull taken on the wire line C of sufficient force will shear the pin 49, but at that time the drag device 4Z has already performed its function of releasing the latch levers 25, and it is immaterial whether it subsequently catches or hangs up on the jarring mechanism.

The engagement of the shoulder 43 on the wire line socket with the upper collar 43 insures the forcing of the drag device 42 through the well casing B against the friction provided by the ragging of the drag springs 45 against the wall of the well casing B. The shear pin 49 holds the mandrel 33 telescoped fully within the barrel 3l, and provides only a relatively small space between the flange 4i on the mandrel and the upper end of the barrel 31 that is substantially shorter than the length of the upper collar 43; so that the latter can easily slide from the socket 33 over the ilange 4l and onto the outer barrel 3l, without danger of hanging up or catching on any of the parts, which action would preclude sufficient relative downward movement of the lower drag collar 44 on the barrel 3l and gun body I2 to force it into engagement with the lever arms 2l, to release their fingers 24 from the iiring pin I4.

In the event it is necessary to employ the jarring device, due to the equipment therebelow being nrmly held in the well bore, such holding force will prevent the barrel 3l from moving, which allows an upward pull to be taken on the wire line C and socket 33, to exert a corresponding upward pull on the mandrel 39 of sufficient force to shear the pin 49 and thereby free the mandrel 39 from connection to the barrel 3l. rThe wire line can then be pulled upwardly (Fig. 4), to strike the mandrel head 43 against the upper barrel head 33 until the barrel 3l and the mechanism depending therefrom is jarred free; or the wire line C can be dropped, to drop the socket 33 and mandrel 39, in order to cause the flange 4 l to strike the upper head 38 or the upper end of the barrel 3l', and exert a downward jarring action on themechanism.

In some well bores, the apparatus is to be 0perated within a liner L having a substantially smaller diameter than the casing B in which the liner is disposed (see Figs. 5 and 6).

In lowering the above-described apparatus through the casing, the springs 45 of the drag device, which have a maximum unrestrained diameter to frictionally engage the inner wall of the line L may not frictionally engage the wall of the casing B; so as to maintain the drag device 42 in its uppermost position on the socket 33 and jarring mechanism 3l. Accordingly, this device 42 may drop downwardly into engagement with the latch levers 25 and inadvertently and prematurely effect their release while the apparatus is disposed in the casing B above the liner L. This contingency is guarded against, as disclosed in Figs. 5 and 6, by securing the drag device 42 to the barrel 3l. As disclosed, a shear pin 50 may be disposed in the lower collar 44 and threaded into the outer barrel 3l. When so attached, the drag springs 45 assume their unresstrained outwardly bowed condition. However, upon entering the liner L of less diameter than the unrestrained diameter of the bowed springs 45, the latter are pressed inwardly, which exerts a downward force on the lower collar 44 of suiiicient value to shear the screw 5t, and thus free the drag device 42 for the performance of its function of releasing the latch levers 25. The

iowermurwwiii nieve*ddwnwadlyisinceffthe upper collarlf'rd'a preuentecrfrmimoving upwardlysbyyits engagement withfthe flange Amon...- therwirvey linelsocket 33. DuingrlDWGring-wf .thelA device through; theliner L, folldwingshearing-.zoffl yw^`5lljf 'l f -gs 45 against.. thelwallqof l eliner L insures thefdlspsitionof therxdrag-aleylice 42 Vin -itsif uppenldcation, such-sas disclosed in Figjl, with'the'upper'collar 43'engaging the ange 48 of the socket 33. When the IOterrtganP end off "said-i?uterelmemberswheir#sai latch levers 25 are to be released from the ring pin I4, the wire line C need merely be pulled upwardly, the wall of the liner L frictionally engaging the drag springs 45 and preventing corresponding upward movement of the drag device 42. This allows the latch arms 21 to be pulled within the lower drag collar 44, as disclosed in Fig. 2, to release the latch levers 25 from the ring pin I4. y

The inventor claims:

1. In well apparatus: an outer member; an inner member telescoped within said outer member; said inner member having an enlarged portion of greater outside dimension than the bore of said outer member and disposed externally of said outer member adjacent an end of said outer member when said inner and outer members are in contracted relation; releasable means holding said members together in such contracted relation; and a drag device engageable with a surrounding medium and slidable along said outer member and enlarged portion, said drag device having a portion movable along and off said enlarged portion onto said outer member when said members are in such contracted relation.

2. In well apparatus: a cylindrical outer barrel; upper and lower heads secured to said barrel; an inner mandrel telescoped within said barrel, said mandrel having a. head disposed between and engageable with said barrel heads; said mandrel having an enlarged portion externally of said barrel and disposed adjacent an end of said barrel when said mandrel and barrel are in contracted relation; releasable means securing said mandrel and barrel together in such contracted relation; and a drag device slidable along said barrel and enlarged portion.

3. In well apparatus: a cylindrical outer barrel; upper and lower heads secured to said barrel; an inner mandrel telescoped within said barrel, said mandrel having a head disposed between and engageable wtih said barrel heads; said mandrel having an enlarged portion externally of said barrel and disposed adjacent an end of said barrel when said mandrel and barrel are in contracted relation; releasable means securing said mandrel and barrel together in such contracted relation; a drag device slidable along said barrel and enlarged portion; and frangible means securing said drag device to said barrel.

4. In well apparatus: a cylindrical outer member; an inner member telescoped within said outer member; said inner member having an enlarged portion of greater outside dimension than the bore of said outer member and disposed externally of said outer member adjacent an end of said outer member when said inner and outer members are in contracted relation; releasable means securing said members together in such contracted relation; a running-in string connected to one of said members; a drag device engageable with a surrounding medium and slidable along said outer member and enlarged portion, said drag device having a portion movable along and off said. enlarged portion onto said outer'fmemfberysaidinner member-havingfan en# large'd1 pbrti'riiof greater outside dimensionfthanw the bor'e" Iof? is aidiouterf-memberandrdisposed-a eternally-for saidibuter'member and disposed1adja innenandrbuteiimemberssarefincontracted-rela tion; releasable means secur'irigsaid'imbersftoigether in such contracted relation; a running-in string connected to one of said members; and a drag device slidable along said outer member and enlarged portion, said drag device comprising upper and lower collars, and outwardly bowed springs secured to said collars; at least one of said collars being slidable along said enlarged portion and outer member when said members are in such contracted relation, the length of said one of said collars being greater than the space between said enlarged portion and adjacent end of said outer member when said inner and outer members are in contracted relation.

6. In well apparatus: a cylindrical outer member; an inner member telescoped within said outer member; said inner member having an enlarged portion of greater outside dimension than the bore of said outer member and disposed externally of said outer member and disposed adjacent an end of said outer member when said inner and outer members are in contracted relation; releasable means securing said members together in such contracted relation; a runningin string connected to one of said members; a drag device slidable along said outer member and enlarged portion, said drag device comprising upper and lower collars, and outwardly bowed springs secured to said collars; at least one of said collars being slidable along said enlarged portion and outer member when said members are in such contracted relation, the length of said one of said collars being greater than the f' space between said enlarged portion and adjacent end of said outer member when said inner and outer members are in contracted relation; and releasable means securing one of said collars to one of said members.

7. In well apparatus: a cylindrical outer member; an inner member telescoped within said outer member; a drag device engageable with a surrounding medium and slidable along said inner member and outer member; stop means on said inner member engaging said drag device for limiting upward movement of said drag device with respect to said members; and means detachably securing said drag device to one of said members while said drag device engages said stop means.

8. In well apparatus: a cylindrical outer member; an inner member telescoped within said outer member; a drag device engageable 'with a surrounding medium and slidable along said inner member and outer member; stop means for limiting upward movement of said drag device with respect to said members; and means detachably securing said drag device to one of said members while said drag device engages said stop means.

9. In well apparatus: a member adapted to be disposed in a well bore; a drag device slidable along said member, said drag device comprising upper and lower collars, and intervening outwardly bowed springs secured to said collars; stop means engaging one of said collars to prevent upward movementl of said drag device along said member; and frangible means securing the other of said collars to said member. f

10. In Well apparatus: a member adapted to be disposed in a Well bore; a drag device slidable along said member, said drag device comprising upper and lower collars, and intervening out- Wardly bowed springs secured to said collars; stop means engaging said upper collar to prevent up- Ward movement of said drag device along said 10 member; and frangible means securingl said lower collar to said member.

References Cited in the ille of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Sparks Dec. 19, 1916 Baptie Sept. 21, 1937 Halliburton Sept. 26, 1939 Baker Apr. 3, 1945 McDonald et al Oct. 23, 1945 

